The Biggest Loser Announces Contestants

NBC announced today the 18 contestants competing on the fourth season of the popular weight loss series “The Biggest Loser,” which premieres Tuesday, Sept. 11 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT). For the first time ever, the show will feature twin brothers Bill and Jim Germanakos from Long Island, New York, as well as Hurricane Katrina survivor Lezlye Donahue, and the oldest contestant in Biggest Loser history, 62-year-old Jerry Lisenby from Peoria, Illinois.

During the exciting two-hour season premiere episode, Bob Harper (blue team) and Kim Lyons (red team) take a leap of faith to meet this season’s contestants, but unbeknownst to them, they are not the only trainers. The season premiere will feature the first of many show twists with the triumphant return of former trainer Jillian Michaels, who will train the secret black team of contestants who failed to be chosen for the blue or red teams. Can Jillian effectively bring her team from the desert to the gym and will her team prove that they deserve a place at the Biggest Loser campus?

Throughout the season the show will reveal the hopes and dreams that brought contestants to the show. From fitting in an airplane seat and not needing an extender belt to running a marathon with their family, some of the contestants don’t remember the last time they weighed less than 300 pounds and others have had their careers impacted by their dramatic weight. Their individual and collective stories will impact the trainers and viewers alike.

The 18 contestants competing this season for the coveted Biggest Loser title and the $250,000 prize include: